Elastic seamless girdles



June 23, 1964 J. D. SERRA 3,138,162

ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLES Filed April 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w Fig.

June 23, 1964 J. D. SERRA ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1960 June 23, 1964 J. D. SERRA ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1960 l] II II I:

8 l m F June 23, 1964 J. D. SERRA ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLES Filed April 28, 1960 Fig. 19

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,138,162 ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLES Juan Duarry Serra, Provenza St. 255, Barcelona, Spain Filed Apr. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 25,427 4 Claims. (Cl. 128521) This invention relates to elastic girdles and the manufacture thereof and has for an object the provision of elastic seamless girdles of mesh-like body molded from deposited latex. The method aspects of the invention are claimed in divisional application Serial No. 202,325 filed June 13, 1962 and the apparatus aspects of the invention are claimed in divisional application Serial No. 210,867 filed June 13, 1962.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an elastic girdle made up of a single, seamless piece of deposited latex, which is characterized primarily by having on most of its surface a molded mesh-like network of multiple small holes, with the girdle having at the upper and lower edges continuous areas of reinforcement which form a unit with the mesh-like zone. The term seamless girdle is employed herein in the sense normally'utilized in this art to define a tubular endless sheath or foundation garment absent seams of any kind and adapted to provide support for the lower torso.

Another aspect of the invention is that the mesh-like area between the upper and lower edges is provided with reinforcements of any predetermined pattern which form a unit with the mesh-like area. A girdle of this improved construction offers the important advantage over ordinary laminated rubber girdles that, because of its open-weave style mesh, created by multiple small holes defined by intersecting fine wire-like formations of molded latex, it permits the free breathing of the skin on which it is placed, completely preventing the accumulation of perspiration beneath it. Furthermore, the continuous reinforcements, appearing at the top and bottom of the garment and forming a unit with the mesh-like zone, reduce the elasticity of the girdle in these areas thereby assuring the proper fit of the girdle on the body. Additionally, the continuous reinforcements appearing in the mesh-like area between the upper and lower edges, and having any desired pattern, reduce the elasticity of the girdle in selected regions for suitable support of the abdomen, hips and the like.

Girdles embodying the present invention preferably are manufactured on novel inexpensive molds comprising a thin frame or screen of mesh material corresponding to the shape of the girdle to be manufactured over a core or screen of continuous surface and slightly spaced from it. The thin screen or frame of mesh material is designed to support, during manufacture, the liquid material, such as latex, sprayed upon it for forming the girdle, and the core or baflle receives the material which during the atomization or pulverization of the spraying process passes through the holes of the frame. The frame may be made of any material having multiple small holes therethrough, for example metal screening, forming a hollow body of straight, curved or mixed outline as desired. Furthermore, the fine screen may have areas covered by a film of any suitable material firmlybonded to its meshes which determine corresponding continuous zones, forming smooth or raised designs in the finished girdle.

For further objects and advantages of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 'is a perspective view of a girdle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fractional view, on enlarged scale, of an area of the girdle shown in FIG. 1 molded in mesh-like fashion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the mesh-like area provided with a continuous reinforcement in the region of the abdomen;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a mold useful in the manufacture of girdles embodying the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 66 in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 79 are views of a modification of the mold corresponding to FIGS. 4-6;

FIGS. 10-12 are views of another modification of the mold similar to FIGS. 4-6;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are side elevation views of additional modifications of the mold;

FIG. 15 is a further modification of the mold useful in the manufacture of a girdle of the type illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a machine for molding girdles in accordance with the present invention;

' FIG. 17 is a bottom View of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fractional view taken in the direction of arrows 18 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a fractional View of a modification of the machine of FIG. 16, partially illustrated in vertical section according to lines 1919 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 20 is a horizontal section taken along the plane 202tl of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation view in the direction of arrow 21 in FIG. 19 and partially in section;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fractional view of FIG. 19.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a girdle 10 made up of a single, seamless piece of deposited latex having on the major portion of its surface a molded network 11 including multiple small molded holes 12. The holes 12 are maintained in the girdle material during the entire molding operation and are not subsequently introduced into the material as by mechanical perforating or by forcing gas through pores which have previously been bridged by rubber latex. The molded network 11 of FIG. 1 is in mesh style. The upper and lower parts .of the girdle 10 are provided with reinforced continuous zones or areas 13 and 14 which form a single unit with the mesh or molded network 11. The upper reinforced zone 13 provides additional support for the body of the wearer, for example along the hips. The lower reinforcement 14 is provided, as shown, with enlarged portions 14 for fastening garters. The portions 14' may be reinforced with cloth if desired.

In FIG. 3, which is a front view of a girdle 10' similar :to that in FIG. 1, there is provided a continuous reinforcement portion 15 in the region of the abdomen which, like the reinforcements 13 and 14 at the top and bottom form a single integral unit with the entire mesh-like area 11.

V Girdles of the type embodying the present invention are adapted to be constructed on tubular-shaped molds of meshmaterial such as illustrated in FIGS. 415. Such girdles are of the molded elastic seamless type which on the major portion of their surface present a molded mesh network of multiple small molded holes uniform in size and distribution and characterized by the holes being defined by solid portions consisting of closely spaced intersecting fine wire-like formations of molded latex in the form of mesh. These are the structural chaarcteristics of the girdles 10 and 10' as may be seen in FIGS. 1-3 and the fine wire-like formations of molded latex in the mesh network correspond to the fine wires of the screen mesh molds as illustrated in FIGS. 4-15 on which the girdles of FIGS. 1-3 are produced. In general, each of the molds includes a frame in the form of a hollow tubular member having a fine network of holes which is placed over an interior core or bafiie of imperforate material. In the form of mold 17, illustrated in FIGS. 46, there is provided a frame 18 having a fine network of holes, such as a metal screen in the shape of a hollow truncated cone. The frame 18 is placed on and at a slight distance from a core or bafile 19 comprising an inner hollow truncated cone. In the modification of FIGS. 7-9 the mold 20 includes a frame 21 having a fine network of holes similar to frame 18. The frame 21 is placed over and slightly separated from a core or bafiie 22 comprising a partial hollow truncated cone. The difference between the molds 17 and 20 will be hereinafter explained in connection with the description of the machine on which they are utilized in the manufacture of girdles shown in FIGS. 1-3.

In FIGS. -12, the mold 24 comprises an outer frame 25 and an inner 26 similar to frames 18 and 21. The frames 25 and 26 are juxtaposed at a slight distance from each other and are attached to a single core or baffie 27 comprised of a hollow truncated cone similar to core 19 of FIG. 4.

The molds 29 and 32 of FIGS. 13 and 14 likewise include respective frames 30 and 33 and their corresponding cores 31 and 34. The cores 31 and 34 may be con tinuous tubular members such as member 19 of FIG. 4 or sections of tubular members similar to core member 22 in FIG. 7. The molds 29 and 32 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 show that the present invention is not limited to cone-shaped molds, but the invention is also applicable to molds having rounded hollow shapes of curved and sinuous appearance.

In FIG. there is illustrated a mold 36 having a frame 37 on which areas 38, 39 and 40 have been covered with a film of any suitable material, firmly attached to the mesh of the screen 37. The solid material areas 38-40 by their location determine corresponding continuous zones forming smooth or raised designs on the molded girdle as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The frames of the respective molds described above serve as a support during the manufacturing process for the liquid material; for example rubber latex, which is applied to the frames by atomization of pulverization. During this application of latex material, the frames are caused to rotate in front of spraying means including one or more nozzles. An example of a preferred form of machine is hereinafter described. The sprayed material is deposited on the various meshes of the frame in successive layers until reaching the desired thickness of the girdle, and by simultaneous heating, the drying and/or vulcanization of the girdle is produced with the finished girdle being easily removed from the mold or support. The latex material, which during atomization passes through the holes of the frame which forms the moldsupport is deposited in a continuous coat on the core or baffle attached to the frame.

When the core is made of a closed rounded body as core 19 in the example of FIGS. 46, it may be stationary or turned with the corresponding frame 18. Where the frame is attached to a core made of a partial rounded body such as the core 22 in FIGS. 7-9, the core remains stationary while the frame is turning with the convex surface of the core facing the spraying device as later to be described in connection with FIGS. 19-22. Where the mold is provided with two frames fastened to a single core, such as mold 24 in FIGS. 10-12, two molded girdles are obtained simultaneously and at the same time there is a reduction in the amount of material deposited upon the core. It is of course to be understood that the deposit of material that forms on the core need not be discarded as waste, but may be used for the manufacture of garters or other items.

Referring to FIGS. 16-18, there is illustrated a machine adapted to utilize molds such as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 in the manufacture of girdles embodying the present invention. The machine 50 is provided with a base 51 on which is mounted a rotating platform 52 which serves as a carrier for the mold frame 53 and its corresponding core 54. The carrier 52, the mold frame 53 and the core 54 are all disposed within a housing 55 carried by the base 51, the housing having an elongated opening 56. The mold frame 53 consists of a hollow body in the form of a truncated cone made of a light network of any suitable material such, for example, as metal screening or a perforated metal plate having multiple small holes and the core or baffle 54 is in the shape of a hollow truncated cone having a continuous or imperforate surface. The rotating platform 52 is supported by an axle 57 to which is attached a gear wheel 58 which meshes with and is rotated by a corresponding pinion 59 driven from an electric motor 60. Within the housing 55 and opposite the elongated aperture 56 there is positioned a heating device 61. The heating device preferably is in the form of electric resistances or infrared tubes or their equivalent.

Outside of the housing 55 and facing the long opening 56 is a spraying means 12 comprising one or more nozzles mounted on a double-threaded rotating column 63. The column 63 is supported by a frame 64 and is driven from a motor 65 by way of pulleys 66 and 67 over which passes a V-belt. The drive motors and may be adjustable electric motors or they may be provided with automatic speed regulating means to permit adjustment of the rotational speed of the platform 52 and the double-threaded column 63. The column 63, during its rotation, imparts to the spraying device or nozzle 12 an alternating movement in a direction parallel to the mold 53 to an extent corresponding to the length of the mold. The pulverizing or atomizing nozzle 62 is equipped with an oscillating device capable of imparting to it during its alternating travel an oscillation movement perpendicular to the direction of its travel. In the example illustrated, the oscillation device comprises an undulated guide 68 mounted parallel to the rotating column 63 and includes a roller 69 which is attached to the nozzle 62 and is adapted to roll freely on the guide 68. This is best shown in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 16 there is best shown a control panel 70 which includes the control mechanisms for the drive motors 60 and 65 and control means for the heating unit 61. The compressed air valve for the atomizing or pulverizing nozzle 62 is identified by reference character 71, FIGS. 16-18.

The machine 50 operates in the following manner: The tank connected to the nozzle 62 is filled with the material to be sprayed, for example rubber-base latex, and the drive motors 60 and 65 are started up along with the heating device 61. As a result, the mold frame 53 along with its core 54 will be placed in rotation and the nozzle 62 will assume alternating movement in a direction parallel to the mold to an extent corresponding to the length of the mold. Upon opening the compressed air valve 21, the material contained in the tank connected to the nozzle 62 is sprayed against the mold frame 53, which is rotating inside the housing 55, and the material is deposited upon the mold frame 53 in successive coats. During the rotary motion of the mold, the heating device 61 causes drying and/ or vulcanization of the deposited material. When the desired thickness of material is attained on the mold frame 53, the machine 50 is stopped by turning off the nozzle 62, the drive motors 60 and 65 and the heating device 61 and the mold is removed from the housing 55 and the completed girdle, corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 1-3, is removed from the mold. The material which during the spraying process passes through the holes of the screen or perforated plate which makes up the mold frame 53 is deposited in a continuous layer on the core or baffle 54 fastened to the mold frame 53. By replacing the mold on its rotating support 52, another girdle can be manufactured immediately and the foregoing process repeated over and over again.

Referring to FIGS. 19-22, there is illustrated a modification of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 16-18. In the modification of FIGS. 19-22, there is illustrated a machine 50a having a base 72 on which is supported a housing 73 having a long opening 74. Facing the opening 74 is a spray nozzle 75 which is adapted to be supported and guided in the same manner as illustrated and described in connection with spray nozzle 62 in FIGS. 16-18. For that reason the means for supporting and guiding the spray nozzle 75 have not been repeated in FIGS. 19-22. The machine 50a differs from machine 50 in that the carrier for the mold frame 76 and the corresponding core 77 is made of a stationary disc 78 upon which is fastened the core 77. The core 77 is made up of a concave-convex body. Thus it will be seen that the combined mold frame 76 and core 77 corresponds to the mold 20 of FIGS. 7-9.

As may be seen in FIG. 20, the core 77 is positioned with its convex surface facing the opening 74 of the housing 73 so that it is directly opposite the nozzle 75. The mold frame 76 is attached to and is carried by a rotating gear wheel 79, FIG. 22 concentric with the stationary disc 78. The gear wheel 79, carrying the mold frame 76, is a unit made with a crown gear 79' meshing with a worm wheel 80 on a shaft 81. The shaft 81 is driven from a drive motor 82, FIG. 21, by means of pulleys 83 and 84 and a V-belt 85. A heating device 86 is placed in the concave interior of the core 77 and thus the frame portion 76 of the mold is adapted to rotate relative to both the stationary core 77 and the heating device 86, FIG. 22.

The operation of the machine 50a is similar in many respects to that of machine 50, previously described. The tank connected to the spraying device 75 is filled with the material to be sprayed, such as the rubber-base latex, and the drive motor 82, FIGS. 19-22, and drive motor 65, FIG. 16, are started along with the heating device 86. As a result, the mold frame 76 will be placed in rotation and the nozzle 75 will assume an alternating movement in a direction parallel to the mold frame 76 to an extent corresponding to the length of the mold. Upon opening the compressed air valve, the material contained in the tank connected to the nozzle 75 is sprayed against the mold frame 76, which is rotating inside the housing 73, and the material is deposited upon the mold frame 76 in successive coats. During the rotary motion of the mold frame 76, the heaters 86 dry and/or vulcanize the deposited material and once the desired thickness is obtained, the machine 50a is stopped, the mold frame 76 is removed and the completed girdle removed from it. The material which during the spraying process passes through the holes in the mold frame 76 is deposited in a continuous layer on the convex surface of the core 77. By replacing the mold frame 76 on its rotating support 79, another girdle can be manufactured immediately and the process repeated successively.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that elastic seamless girdles embodying the present invention can be produced by spraying latex on relatively inexpensive molds which by reason of their thin open mesh structure can be readily shaped to provide the desired contour and the girdles can be provided with the desired reinforced areas merely by covering the corresponding mesh areas of the mold so that the latex does not pass through the openings in those areas. The novel machine on which the subject elastic seamless girdles are produced likewise is of relatively inexpensive construction and is easily operated to produce the desired bands or girdles or other molded articles.

It shall be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements shown, and that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A molded tubular elastic seamless girdle the major portion of which consists of closely spaced intersecting fine wire-like formations of molded latex which provide a fine molded network of multiple small molded holes in the form of open-weave mesh.

2. A molded tubular elastic seamless girdle according to claim 1 characterized by having at the upper and lower edges areas of continuous reinforcement which reduce the elasticity of such girdle in such areas and form a single unit with said molded network of open-weave mesh.

3. A molded tubular elastic seamless girdle according to claim 2 characterized by having on said molded network of mesh between the upper and lower edges continuous reinforcements of predetermined design, which last-named reinforcements reduce elasticity of said girdle in selected regions to provide suitable support and form a single unit with said molded network of open-Weave mesh.

4. An elastic seamless girdle of the molded tubular type which is characterized in that the major portion of its surface presents a molded mesh-like network of multiple small molded holes uniform in size and distribution in the form of open-weave style mesh, the holes being defined by solid portions consisting of intersecting fine wire-like formations of molded latex.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,065 Galligan Mar. 3, 1936 2,133,027 Honig Oct. 11, 1938 2,273,995 Rogerson et al Feb. 24, 1942 2,288,840 Raiche July 7, 1942 2,365,016 Spanel Dec. 12, 1944 2,428,127 Sidnell Sept. 30, 1947 2,605,505 Ruhland Aug. 5, 1952 2,749,549 Ambrose June 20, 1956 2,770,808 Bader et al Nov. 20, 1956 2,804,644 Kyle Sept. 3, 1957 2,867,847 Miller et al Jan. 13, 1959 2,957,200 Pufahl Oct. 25, 1960 3,017,889 Miller Jan. 23, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 448,184 Great Britain May 25, 1936 451,182 Great Britain July 31, 1936 758,471 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1956 

1. A MOLDED TUBULAR ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLE THE MAJOR PORTION OF WHICH CONSISTS OF CLOSELY SPACED INTERESECTING FINE WIRE-LIKE FORMATIONS OF MOLDED LATEX WHICH PROVIDE A FINE MOLDED NETWORK OF MULTIPLE SMALL MOLDED HOLES IN THE FORM OF OPEN-WEAVE MESH. 